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ACTU President Ged Kearney said a new decree quietly introduced by the Fiji Government was even more draconian than past laws, with anyone who campaigned for workplace rights able to be considered a terrorist and placed in jail indefinitely.

“Just two weeks ago Fiji’s Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama spruiked the removal of the draconian Public Emergency Regulations (PER), which banned public meetings and freedom of the press, as part of his desire to encourage free debate in the lead up to democratic elections in 2014.

“But Mr Bainimarama seemingly forgot to add that he had concurrently introduced another set of laws that give his illegal Government sweeping powers of arrest and detention without a warrant and for 16 days. Under the new laws, ‘terrorism’ is redefined to cover any act that is seen to be campaigning to influence the government towards change.

“This essentially means that a Fiji worker or union leader that asked the ACTU or Australian Government to pressure the Fiji Government to change its draconian ways would be guilty of an act of terrorism. That person may be imprisoned for life.

“This new decree is even more draconian and places even more restrictions on the rights of Fijians than past laws. The Australian Government cannot turn a blind eye. We renew our call to the Australian Government to reconsider its recent decision to renew a textile, clothing and footwear scheme with the Fijian Government under a regional trade agreement.

“The agreement which gives unfettered access to the Australian market – the largest market for Fijian textile products –merely legitimises an oppressive regime that has persistently flouted human rights in the face of international and local opposition.”

The new decree also includes:

• A ban on the manufacture, use, sale, display or possession of any flag, banner, emblem or picture if the Prime Minster deems it in the public interest to do so;
• An application to hold a public meeting must be submitted to the police seven days in advance, with a possible five years imprisonment and $10,000 fine if the meeting occurs without a permit;
• Control over freedom of movement, including where a person may travel or live in Fiji, at the discretion of the Government;
• Empowers a police officer to arrest a person without warrant and detain him or her without charge for up to 16 days by order of the Prime Minister and enables the military to perform police function, by the consent of the police;
• Further curtails freedom of speech, with any person who makes any statement, likely to undermine Fiji’s economy or financial integrity to face 10 years imprisonment and/or a $50,000 fine; and
• Quashes the role of the judiciary, with the courts unable to hear any claim by anyone challenging the validity, or legality of any decision made by the commissioner of police, any divisional police commander, the Prime Minister or any public official under this decree.